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Q & A with John Connor Expert AAS advisor

Q & A with Expert AAS advisor John Connor

John Connor is a researcher in the field of performance enhancing drugs and nutrition related to the bodybuilding lifestyle. Connor writes frequently about the real life application of these compounds in an advisory and educational role. Connor is also an advocate of the decriminalization of male hormone use in adults. John Connor does not advocate readers engage in any illegal activity; always consult a medical doctor before using any medication.

First Cycle and PCT (updated 2012)

The effects of Testosterone

One of the most common question I'm asked is "what should I do for a first cycle?" The questions are; “what steroid should I take?” “How long should I take it?” and “What will the effects be?” There are literally dozens of steroids available and that makes it difficult for a first time user to choose. The following information will attempt to provide enough information for a first time user to make an educated decision about anabolic androgenic steroid use.

Testosterone is one of the most effective, safe and available steroids today, therefore I believe Testosterone is the best first cycle choice. The following text outlines the benefits and risks of Testosterone administration based on a clinical human trial of 61 healthy men in 2001. The purpose of the trial was to determine the dose dependency of testosterone’s effects on fat-free mass and muscle performance. In this trial 61 men, 18-35years old were randomized into 5 groups receiving weekly injections of 25, 50, 125, 300, 600 mg of Testosterone Enanthate for 20 weeks. They had previous weight-lifting experience and normal T levels. Their nutritional intake was standardized and they did not undertake any strength training during the trial. The only two groups that reported significant muscle building benefits were the 300 and 600 mg groups so any dose lower than 300mg will not be considered in this essay. 12 men participated in the 300 mg group and 13 men in the 600 mg group.

The same 600 mg administration resulted in 2 side effects. HDL cholesterol was negatively correlated and 2 men developed acne.

The normal range for total T in men is 241-827 ng/dl according to Labcorp and 260-1000 ng/dl according to Quest Laboratories. The normal range for IGF-1 is 81-225 according to Labcorp. Total T and IGF-1 levels were taken after 16 weeks and resulted in the following;

Acne300 mg group-7 of the 12 men developed acne600 mg group-2 of the 13 men developed acne

There were no significant changes in PSA or liver enzymes at any dose up to 600mg. However, long-term effects of androgen administration on the prostate, cardiovascular risk, and behavior are unknown. The study demonstrated that there is a dose dependent relationship with testosterone administration. In other words the more testosterone administered the greater the muscle building effects and potential for side effects.

Given the results of the study and based on years of personal experience I believe the first time user can safely use between 300-600 mg of testosterone enanthate or cypionate per week for 8-12 weeks. Because it is desirable to have even blood androgen levels I advise at least 2 equal injections per week. The following graph demonstrates that testosterone cypionate peaks within 1-2 days after injection and falls off to almost baseline by day 10. Therefore waiting 7 days between injections of cypionate would cause wide fluctuations in blood androgen levels.

If a first time user wanted to use 600 mg of cypionate or enanthate per week he would inject 300 mg on Tuesday and another 300 mg on Saturday each week for 10 weeks. When injecting long heavy esters like cypionate with this frequency I tend to have less acne then 1 injection per week.

There are a number of esters which provide varying release times. Acetate or propionate esters extend the release time of testosterone a couple of days. In contrast, a deconate ester prolongs the release of testosterone about 3 weeks. Testosterone enanthate and cypionate are almost identical esters. The use of an ester allows for a less frequent injection schedule than using a water based testosterone like suspension which has no ester at all and is rapidly in and out of your system after injection. The published release times are not exact and are many times based on a single injection not many multiple injections which can delay the release of the hormone. Other factors affect release times of esters such as scar tissue and the muscle group injected. Only a blood test can confirm when the active hormone has cleared your system.

Esters not only effect release times but also the potency of the Testosterone as esters make up part of the steroid weight. This must be taken into account when calculating dosages. The longer the release time the less free hormone. For example propionate is about 15% more potent mg. for mg. then enanthate so 500mg of propionate would equal about 575 mg. of enanthate. The following chart illustrates the free base equivalents for several compounds.

Although it was not indicated in the trial, during or after the steroid cycle some men are prone to gynecomastia which is the formation of female like breast tissue. This is due to excessive estrogen as the body tries to balance out the sex hormones. A selective estrogen receptor modulator or S.E.R.M. such as Tamoxifen can be used effectively to combat gynecamastia in an emergency as it competes for the estrogen receptor which in turn inhibits estrogen's effects. It is highly recommended that a S.E.R.M. be available during treatment of Testosterone. 10-40mg daily is an effective dose however dosage is dependent on how much testosterone is administered as well as the individual himself.

The decision to use steroids should not be taken lightly and should be the last consideration after implementing a solid nutritional, training and recovery plan. It is advised to get blood work when using these medications.

Ancillaries during the cycle

Aromatase Inhibitor

I briefly wrote about using Tamoxifen above for emergency gynecomastia treatment however I'm convinced that there is a better strategy for controlling estrogen during a steroid cycle. Rather than waiting for the side effects of estrogen to present an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex or Aromasin should be used on cycle to control Estrogen and keep free testosterone levels high. 0.5mg-1mg Arimidex every other day OR 10-25mg Aromasin daily. Start with the lower dose and then see how that controls water retention, blood pressure and libido and make adjustments as needed. A blood test would be the most ideal way to determine the dosage of the AI. Free T needs to be in the high range and estradiol between 10-30 pg/ml.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Testosterone-Induced gonadotropin suppression tends to cause atrophy of the testes and decreases intratesticular testosterone. In other words, when a male administers testosterone his testes shrink because they are suppressed. A simple way to restore ITT levels and maintain the mass of the testes is to administer HCG during testosterone treatment. During a study it was determined that HCG is dose dependent and that approximately 300iu HCG taken every other day restored ITT levels. This is 1,050iu HCG weekly. I recommend 500iu twice weekly while on testosterone treatment. HCG will not only keep ITT levels and the mass of the testes normal but will also aid in keeping the male fertile.

For all you guys who want to add multiple compounds to your first course I advise against it because if you have side effects then you will not know which compound is causing the sides. I have gotten a ton of questions over the years and there is always some reason that I'm given for using multiple compounds on the first run but there really is no need. However my cycle sample above may not be for everyone so I am offering an alternative to the flat cycle design. If you want to run a first cycle with a little more horsepower then you may want to consider a modified pyramiding cycle. I have done over 20 pyramid courses and must say they are my favorite way to run aas. The human body is always fighting for homeostasis so the concept is to increase dose before gains plateau. Based on the 2009 myostatin study we can design a cycle that is effective for 10 weeks using this strategy. The following first cycle is for men that want a little more performance with added risk while only using Testosterone. The first 5 weeks a standard dose is administered to evaluate how your body responds and to determine if sides are manageable. If sides are manageable then increase the dose.

10-25 mg Aromasin daily with the goal of keeping Estradiol between 10pg/ml-30pg/ml. Only blood work can confirm if you are in this range.

500iu HCG twice weekly.

Post Cycle therapy

I strongly believe that an AI should be used as long as there is an aromatizing compound being administered. In this case Testosterone and HCG aromatize therefore using an AI until these meds clear is what I'm recommending. Nolvadex has been shown to reduce IGF-1 and GH levels when used alone. This is not a big deal on cycle as testosterone increases IGF-1 in a dose dependent relationship. However off cycle this is may be a problem. PCT is a fragile time and lower IGF-1 and GH levels are not desirable. More advanced users may opt to use Nolvadex and Human Growth Hormone during PCT to counter the HGH lowering effect of Nolvedex. However, I'm recommending AI's that may be used on cycle and during PCT. It's my conclusion that Aromasin or Arimidex are both good choices.

I recommend the following PCT protocol for esters like Cypionate and Enanthate;

While the aas ester is clearing : 2500iu HCG every third day for 2 weeks. (You may use less HCG if your testes are normal in size AND you have been using HCG on cycle, i.e. 1,000iu HCG every third day.)

100/100/100/50 Clomid (50mg taken twice per day weeks 1-3 AFTER the aas ester clears)

20mg/20mg/20mg Aromasin (20mg daily for 3 weeks)

3g Vit C every day split in 3 doses

10g creatine daily

The HCG is administered BEFORE the aas ester clears to increase the mass of the testes and bring back ITT levels. This will allow the testes to sustain output of testosterone sooner.

Clomid is universally accepted as THE testosterone recovery tool. It blocks estrogen from the HPTA and stimulates the production of GNRH then initiates the production of LH, which in turn signals the testis (if not atrophied) to produce testosterone.

Aromasin or a similar aromatase inhibitor is for testosterone recovery and it is used to keep the testosterone/estrogen balance in favor of testosterone. It is also helps to keep any additionally occurring estrogen from HCG low to none.

Cortisol is catabolic. It is the enemy of all anabolism and must be kept in check. While it is blocked when under the influence of AAS, it is free to attach to the Anabolic Receptors (AR) once the steroids leave. Due to this blockage Cortisol tends to accumulate and increase when on. A low level is desirable however since it is important for other vital functions such as control of inflammation. Balance is the key. Vitamin C keeps the exercise induced rise of Cortisol in check.

The use of Creatine has shown to increase ATP metabolism and cellular water storage among many other things. This is beneficial because it provides for heightened nutrient storage and a slight increase in anabolism as well as workout stamina.

Failed Post Cycle TherapySometimes a single post cycle therapy is insufficient to restore healthy testosterone levels and a second post cycle therapy may be needed. In that case I would advise a simple clomid HPTA restart at 50mg daily for 4-6 weeks.

References1.Testosterone dose-response relationships in healthy young men;2.Pharmacokinetics and Dose Finding of a Potent Aromatase Inhibitor, Aromasin (Exemestane), in Young Males3.Low-Dose Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Maintains Intratesticular Testosterone in Normal Men with Testosterone-Induced Gonadotropin Suppression4.Use of clomiphene citrate to reverse premature andropause secondary to steroid abuse.
5.Changes in the Endocrinological Milieu After Clomiphene Citrate Treatment for Oligozoospermia: The Clinical Significance of the Estradiol/Testosterone Ratio as a Prognostic Value
6.Testicular steroidogenesis after human chorionic gonadotropin desensitization in rats. 7.Effect of tamoxifen on GH and IGF-1 serum level in stage I-II breast cancer patients8.Treatment of gynecomastia with tamoxifen: A double-blind crossover study
9.Role of testosterone/estradiol ratio in predicting the efficacy of tamoxifen citrate treatment in idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men.

special thanks to those men and women who have influnced my thinking over the years in regards to aas use.

Written by John Connor aka heavyiron

IronMag Labs 15% Off Coupon Code = heavyiron15

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All posts are for entertainment and may contain fiction. Consult a medical doctor before using any medications or supplements. Heavyiron does not advocate readers engage in any illegal activity.

Just about any AAS will work for cutting as nutrition and training will mostly drive fat loss not the steroid. I would want to know more about the experience level of the person asking but a simple Testosterone cycle with an AI will work just fine. However, a more seasoned individual may want to stack several AAS for this goal. In my opinion not much beats a Testosterone, Trenbolone and Masteron stack. Here's an article I recently updated on cutting;

Cutting Cycle Synergy~the secret weapon~updatedFor years bodybuilders have experimented with various compounds while in their cutting phases to find the ultimate AAS stack to assist in cutting body fat while preserving lean body mass. Almost any steroid may be used to cut with as long as nutrition, training and recovery are properly in place but as contest time approaches most bodybuilders want a hard, defined and dry look. This is a time when various low or non aromatizing anabolic steroids are employed.

The Secret Weapon

Certain anabolic steroids work synergistically with one another and years ago a particular stack started being used often by bodybuilders around the world. At first it was called “The Secret Weapon”. This stack is a powerful combination of anabolic steroids that can elicit a hard, dry grainy look. It preserves muscle mass even during extreme dieting. In fact, many users report gaining lean body mass while dieting on this powerful cocktail of anabolic steroids.

Cut Mix

The secret weapon is no longer a secret. Once this combination of steroids started gaining popularity the manufacturers of steroid products immediately started producing these steroids together in a blend. Most users who administer these blends are amazed at just how effective they are. Today The Secret Weapon is more commonly referred to as Cut Mix.

One of the challenges with using a pre measured blend is you are locked into certain ratios. The above mix is a 1 to 1 to 1 ratio which may be problematic if you want to keep one compound lower or higher than another. For example, many guys like to run Testosterone at higher or lower doses in relationship to their Trenbolone dose. This is especially true towards the end of prep when the Testosterone dose may be dropped very low or altogether while the Trenbolone dose is kept higher. Therefore I personally like having all compounds in a separate vial so I can create whatever ratio I want depending on the period of the cycle I’m in.

Masteron (drostanolone propionate) is a moderately anabolic steroid that promotes increases in hardness, lean body mass and strength which has a positive effect on the potential for fat loss. Masteron does not possess any estrogenic activity and therefore water retention is highly unlikely. In fact, Masteron is often described as anti-estrogenic. This DHT derivative actually competes with other aromatizable substrates for binding to the aromatase enzyme. Masteron is not only a moderate anabolic but also a mild anti-estrogen which is very useful when stacking with low doses of other aromatizing steroids such as Testosterone.

Testosterone Propionate is a powerful mass building drug that is able to rapidly add gains in muscle size and strength. It’s the only aromatizing steroid in this stack but at reasonable doses aromatization is moderate. I'm convinced there's almost no other traditional injectable stack that's as potent and versatile as Testosterone and Trenbolone. It's a simple stack with enormous potential to harden muscle, promote fat loss and add raw strength. The addition of Masteron adds even more to this synergy as it acts as an anti-estrogen to control aromatization of Testosterone. If Testosterone doses are higher an Aromatase Inhibitor may be needed.

Trenbolone Acetate is at least 3 times more anabolic and androgenic than Testosterone or Nandrolone. Trenbolone binds to androgen receptors (ARs) with approximately three times the affinity of testosterone and has been shown to augment skeletal muscle mass and bone growth and reduce adiposity! Tren is one potent weapon in the bodybuilder’s arsenal. Trenbolone is a non-estrogenic steroid so water retention is highly unlikely. Stacking with complimentary steroids such as Testosterone maximizes Trenbolones potential and also reduces side effects such as loss of libido.

In addition to the Cut Mix several other medications are typically employed to further optimize the cutting cycle. The first compound is Winstrol tabs or an injectable preperation.

Stanozolol has an anabolic rating of 320 and an androgenic rating of 30 making it an excellent steroid for promoting muscle growth with zero water retention. Stanozolol cannot aromatize into estrogen so estrogenic side effects like water retention are not a factor. Winstrol is excellent for dieting bodybuilders and is best employed near the end of a cutting cycle to keep the user anabolic but give a dry shredded appearance. Winstrol significantly lowers SHBG even at very low doses in a matter of a few days. This is significant because that equates to more free testosterone. Winstrol stacked with testosterone means more testosterone stays free or active. Some users report increased sex drive when stacking Winstrol with testosterone. Basically Winstrol makes your testosterone work better and it can raise libido.

Oxandrolone is derived from DHT. It has a very strong separation of anabolic (about 525) and androgenic (24) effect, and no progestational or estrogenic activity. Anavar is noted for being quite mild as far as oral steroids are concerned, which is great for the promotion of strength and quality muscle tissue gains however lipids should be monitored as it will lower HDL significantly. Mg for mg it displays as much as five-six times the anabolic activity of testosterone in assays, with way less androgenicity. This drug is a favorite of dieting bodybuilders and competitive athletes in speed/anaerobic performance sports, where its tendency for LBM gain (without fat or water retention) fits well with the desired goals.Cytomel or T3 is used to increase metabolic rate. This increase means more nutrient uptake including increased protein synthesis. Since oxidation rate is increased, energy demands are also increased. When you are in a calorie deficit this will mean even more fat loss when using T3. However, T3 is catabolic so it must be used with anabolic steroids to preserve lean body mass while dieting. Start with 25mcg’s T3 daily and after one week increase the T3 to 50mcg’s daily. After one week you may increase the T3 dose once again to 75mcg’s daily if needed.

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) has clearly been shown to increase lean body mass and to enhance fat loss while improving recovery and even helping with injury repair, especially cartilage. It is my opinion that maximal fat burning GH doses start somewhere around 4-6iu daily in men. For maximal fat burning AND adding maximal lean body mass that range appears to be around 8-12iu GH daily. I recommend at least 5 months of GH administration. GH is a long term commitment and there is a lesser benefit to using GH for shorter durations. This can be quite expensive so many users will skip days during the week. For example, the 5 on 2 off protocol is commonly used to get the desired effects but at the same time reduce cost. Basically the user administers a daily dose Mon-Fri and then dose not administer a dose on the weekends. Another popular protocol is only using GH every other day. The EOD method has some scientific support so it would be my first recommendation for GH users who want to reduce cost.Many users report a synergy when using GH and Steroids together. It’s commonly reported that the fat burning effects and gains in LBM are much more profound with GH and Testosterone. Therefore in order to maximize the benefits of GH I would not use it alone and highly recommend stacking GH with AAS. Testosterone has been proven to reduce body fat and increase LBM in a dose dependent relationship; therefore I recommend that experienced male users administer at least 5iu GH daily for a duration of 5 months with anabolic steroids. Growth Hormone and the secret weapon stack will illicit increases in lean body mass and a significant reduction in body fat if nutrition, training and recovery are properly in place.

Stimulants are typically employed to further increase energy expenditure. Ephedrine and Caffeine are commonly used in this regard. Beta 2 agonists like Clenbuterol may also be used during a cut. All of these may act as an appetite suppressant as well. Personally I’m not a big fan of stimulants because they tend to make me jittery and agitated however I do use caffeine on a regular basis. Caffeine is inexpensive and works well for me. Clenbuterol has some science demonstrating that it’s slightly anabolic so if I was to advise on the use of any of these, Clen would be my preference for those who have no problems with these compounds.

Final 6 weeks of prep

Before the final 6 weeks of prep I recommend cutting on 50-100mg of Anadrol daily and 1 gram of Testosterone weekly. During this phase almost any combination of steroids may be used but I prefer these two compounds as they provide significant power and energy while dieting. An aromatase inhibitor may be used to control excessive aromatase activity from the Testosterone and always keep Nolvadex on hand in case gynocomastia presents. T3 may be loaded during this first part of the cutting phase.

The last 6 weeks of prep I recommend employing the Secret Weapon. Depending on the male users experience level you may inject between 0.5ml – 2 ml daily. However the preferred method is mixing your own ratios to suit your individual needs. I recommend daily injects during contest prep because that will yield the highest blood androgen levels. The Propionate esters from the Masteron and Testosterone possess a half life of about 48 hours however the decline is so significant by the 30th hour that waiting another 18 hours is counter productive. However, a gym rat doing a summer cut for the beach may opt for an every other day injection schedule. The following chart shows the pharmacokinetic characteristics of propionate.

The above cycle is just one example and may be modified to meet individual needs, however this basic cutting cycle has such powerful synergy that it will illicit amazing results if nutrition, training and recovery are dialed in.

What in your expert opinion is a good starting body fat percentage for someone wanting to do a first cycle of AAS, say to bulk? I've read and seen so many times that 10-12% is best, but is that based in some form of science or just brologic?

Is it best to start at a lower percentage so to limit estrogen increase in the body?

And lastly, if someone were to start a cut at say, 20%, what compounds would you recommend if any at all other then diet and cardio?

Just about any AAS will work for cutting as nutrition and training will mostly drive fat loss not the steroid. I would want to know more about the experience level of the person asking but a simple Testosterone cycle with an AI will work just fine. However, a more seasoned individual may want to stack several AAS for this goal. In my opinion not much beats a Testosterone, Trenbolone and Masteron stack. Here's an article I recently updated on cutting;

Great thanks heavy, the user is 268lbs 13% BF done many cycles and avid user of tren Ace among other compounds. User is thinking of a test prop, tren ace, winstrol cycle to help lean out some and put on mass. Thoughts?

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